New Coding Structure Threatens Small Physician Practices

Just before Christmas, the AMA released a letter that they sent to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that they should stop the implementation of ICD-10-CM.  This letter was signed by nearly nearly 40 national physician organizations.

ICD-10-CM is the 10th revision for outpatient diagnosis coding.  This new coding structure is set to increase the amount of diagnostic codes from 13,000 to 68,000.  The letter argues that the cost of implementation could force many physicians out of business that have small practices.  The estimated cost is anywhere between $83k and $2.7 million per practice.

There is still time to deal with this change, the implementation date is 10/1/14.  We will try and get someone at the AMA to comment on this issue, but in the time being, if you think this is important……please contact your local association and any medical organization you belong to, and urge them to sign this letter.  Below is a list of organizations that signed the letter:

American Medical Association
American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
American Academy of Dermatology Association
American Academy of Emergency Medicine
American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
American Association of Clinical Urologists
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
American College of Cardiology
American College of Chest Physicians
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
American College of Rheumatology
American Osteopathic Association
American Society for Clinical Pathology
American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
American Society of General Surgeons
American Society of Nephrology
American Society of Neuroradiology
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Urological Association
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
International Spine Intervention Society
Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Medical Group Management Association
North American Spine Society
Renal Physicians Association
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
The Endocrine Society
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Medical Association of the State of Alabama
Alaska State Medical Association
Arizona Medical Association
Arkansas Medical Society
California Medical Association
Colorado Medical Society
Connecticut State Medical Society
Medical Society of Delaware
Medical Society of the District of Columbia
Florida Medical Association Inc
Medical Association of Georgia
Hawaii Medical Association
Illinois State Medical Society
Indiana State Medical Association
Iowa Medical Society
Kansas Medical Society
Kentucky Medical Association
Louisiana State Medical Society
MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society
Massachusetts Medical Society
Michigan State Medical Society
Mississippi State Medical Association
Missouri State Medical Association
Montana Medical Association
Nebraska Medical Association
Nevada State Medical Association
New Hampshire Medical Society
Medical Society of New Jersey
New Mexico Medical Society
Medical Society of the State of New York
North Carolina Medical Society
North Dakota Medical Association
Ohio State Medical Association
Oklahoma State Medical Association
Pennsylvania Medical Society
South Carolina Medical Association
South Dakota State Medical Association
Texas Medical Association
Utah Medical Association
Medical Society of Virginia
West Virginia State Medical Association
Wyoming Medical Society